World Witout Wizards: Guard

I wished I didn't leave so much valuable stuff in the forest! There were about 66 pounds of meat. I didn't know how to carry it. First I crafted a kind of stretcher from tree branches, but I couldn't even lift it.

What if I just roll the carcass in front of me? I looked at the map, trying to determine the location of the River Village and saw that the whole area was covered with some triangles.

Intelligence Check

Base 0

Bonus + 1

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 2

Great Success

Looking around, I came to the middle of a clearing. The sun had already risen high and was shining brightly, this meant that I had been gathering the herbs for about two hours. It took me about an hour to walk around the area. The trees grew so thick that I couldn't see the surroundings because of them, so I put on my gloves and climbed upwards.

Dexterity Check

Base 0

Bonus +1

Dice Roll 1

Requirement 2

Success

The branches were growing close together, forming something like a ladder, and I didn't even have to climb. The gloves protected my hands from the resin and rough bark. Soon I looked around from the top of the tree. I was amazed by the beautiful view. A green boundless sea, turning into the black horizon, stretched out in front of me. Where is the River Village? I turned around and saw it.

I realized that I'd wasted much time looking for the proper herbs. The village was nearby—fifteen minutes of walk from the edge of the forest, the nearest farm was even closer—ten minutes of walk from here. I'd be able to get out of the forest if I didn't forget the right direction and get lost. I had to remember the peculiarities of the area and somehow figure out what to do with the bear.

As soon as I thought about it, an icon with an inscription appeared on the map. This icon was moving in sync with my gaze. I took a look at one of the village houses marked on the map and the Magic system independently created a route for me.

Route to the destination is traced

It was magic! It worked perfectly. I shook my head, turned around and nothing changed; I could still see the map before my eyes.

Going down to the edge, I began to walk around the carcass, trying to figure out how to tie it. I made up my mind that the most reasonable thing was to make a huge sphere out of the carcass and just roll it. It would be like a big shaggy, smelly ball.

I turned the bear on its gut and cut the skin with my sword. I put the front and hind legs on the beast's belly, then folded the animal, reinforcing the structure with long, flexible branches of the trees growing nearby, using the twigs as ropes.

Strength Check

Base 0

Bonus + 1

Dice Roll 4

Requirement 4+2 (big weight)

Success

Stamina Check

Base 0

Bonus +1

Dice Roll 4

Requirement 3+ 2

Failure

At first, it was very hard for me to roll the bear. Then the furry sphere started rolling through the forest by itself, I only slightly helped it with my sword.

Massive roots and felled trees made it difficult to move. Sometimes I had to cut branches and change the trajectory to get around the impassable places. The journey, which was supposed to last thirty minutes, took more than six hours.

Tired and exhausted, I came out of the forest as the sun was setting.

"Hello, kid!" I welcomed a village boy of about ten years of age, who froze with horror. He was gathering firewood at the edge of the forest. But instead of greeting me back, he shrieked and ran towards the nearest house.

What's the matter? I inspected myself from top to bottom and realized that the child had a reason to be scared: he saw a blood-smeared man with a huge sword and some hefty gray-brown shaggy creature nearby. However, I had no choice but to continue rolling my prey.

I sighed and rolled the bear onto the path. I felt better when the road turned down. I pushed the carcass forward and heard some angry voices in front after a few seconds.

Dexterity Check

Base 0

Bonus + 1

Dice Roll 2

Requirement 4

Failure

I tried to stop that huge furry sphere but I couldn't. Instead, I accidentally pushed the carcass, wet with blood and dirt, and accelerated it. The angry voices immediately turned into screams. Some women yelled then wheezed, while my prey was falling on its side.

Damn it, I'll have to roll the carcass out on the main road again!

"It's him! Father, it's a forest monster! I'm telling the truth!"

"Move aside, son," a stocky man holding a large wooden stick in his hand, stepped forward, "Get out of here! Go back to your forest and don't disturb us again!"

Intelligence Check

Base 0

Bonus + 1

Dice Roll 4

Requirement 4

Success

Honestly, I didn't know what happened to me next. I was very tired of rolling the heavy bear for so long, thus the villagers with pitchforks and torches made me crazy.

"I'm the master of the forest!" I roared as furiously as I could, "You, mere mortals, haven't brought me a tribute for a long time. You burn my trees and drain my land with your crops. You promised to sacrifice me one v.i.r.g.i.n a year just two hundred years ago. You swore to bring pigs and calves into the forest to feed my wolves!"

Luck Check

Base 0

Bonus +1

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 2

Great Success

"Don't you dare touch my Vasilisa!" a woman cried, helping a girl, who had fallen into a puddle colliding with the rolling bear, to get up out of the mud. "Take everything—chickens, sheep, but never think about my daughter."

"Well, haven't I warned you?!" I was apparently half-mad at that moment and yelled, "I'll curse you! You'll all die of terrible diseases. Mice and locusts will destroy your fields. Your houses will rot and fall!"

I didn't know why, but the villagers believed me... Perhaps because I was tall and broad-shouldered. All the men in the crowd were half a head shorter than me. Perhaps the residents were intimidated by my blood-stained sword. Also, my appearance would scare any normal man... So, the dwellers slowly backed away…

"Have mercy, master!" one of the peasants fell to his knees and pleaded. "Don't ruin our village! Wife, bring our eldest daughter here. Take her! Have mercy! You can eat this girl, but don't touch anyone else. I have seven children. Don't deprive them their parents, don't make them orphans. Don't touch our crops. I swear by the HAND, I'm ready to give you my daughter if you have mercy. So, take Vasilisa."

Status check is proceeding successfully

Slaver

The girl is being transferred to you

Vasilisa, age 16

No special skills and specialization

Nickname —Forest maiden

Cancel property transfer... 30 sec, 29…